Heidelberg 2015 – scientific programme

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A: Fachverband Atomphysik

A 3: Precision Measurements and Metrology I (with Q)

A 3.1: Talk

Monday, March 23, 2015, 11:30–11:45, G/gHS

Testing the universality of free fall with very large baseline atom interferometry — •Christian Schubert, Jonas Hartwig, Sven Abend, Dennis Schlippert, Christian Meiners, Étienne Wodey, Holger Ahlers, Katerine Posso-Trujillo, Naceur Gaaloul, Wolfgang Ertmer, and Ernst Maria Rasel — Institut für Quantenoptik, Leibniz Universität Hannover

The scaling factor of atom interferometers critically relies on its baseline. In case of a gravimeter, it defines the free evolution time and subsequently the response to gravity. For a gradiometer or strainmeter, the signal strength of differential acceleration signal depends on it. Therefore, very large baseline atom interferometers (VLBAI) at the scale of several meters and above are the next step to reach higher precision for advances in applied and fundamental sciences. The perspectives are to compete with superconducting gravimeters, to perform quantum tests of the weak equivalence principle in dual species set up with accuracies comparable to classical state-of-the-art tests, and to establish scalable atom optics for future strainmeters. Our VLBAI setup aims for interrogation of quantum degenerated Ytterbium and Rubidium ensembles in a 10 m vacuum setup. The simultaneous dual species operation will allow a test the universality of free fall. Choosing specifically this combination of atomic elements is motivated by the extensive experience from interferometry with cold and ultra cold atoms, and atomic clock experiments while it also constrains complementary violation parameters compared to existing tests. We will discuss the experimental implementation and the requirements to reach the targeted accuracy.